Supervixen

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“Supervixen”
“Supervixen” cover
Single by Garbage
from the album Garbage
Released October, 1996 (US)
Format Airplay only
Recorded 1994 - 1995
Smart Studios,
Madison, Wisconsin
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:56
3:43 (Radio edit)
Label Almo Sounds (North America)
Writer(s) Garbage
Producer Garbage
Garbage singles chronology
"Milk"
(1996)
"Supervixen"
(1996)
"#1 Crush"
(1996)

"Supervixen" was the opening track on Garbage's 1995 self-titled debut album. "Supervixen" was released as an airplay-only single [1] to Modern Rock radio in North America in October, 1996. [2]

"Supervixen" was titled after Russ Meyer's 1975 violent love-triangle movie Supervixens.

Contents

[edit] Song

"Supervixen" was written by Garbage in 1994 during sessions between band members Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson and Steve Marker at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. [3] Madison musician Mike Kashou performs bass guitar on "Supervixen" [4]

Lyrically, Manson states that "["Supervixen"] is all about saying "idolise me, I'm going to give you everything you want, but you have to do something in return". It's a bargaining song about a relationship. I'm not saying "I'm a wee Scottish lass fae Edinburgh and I'm great". It's actually about this supervixen, this Russ Meyer-type woman." [5]

[edit] Release

A slightly shortened (mostly in the middle 8 section) radio edit of "Supervixen" was sent to Modern Rock format radio stations in October 1996. [6] It was playlisted by KROQ, [2] despite this the song failed to register on any Billboard charts. [7]

In late 1995, around the time of of the European Garbage album release, a promotional disc for "Queer" was issued in Spain by BMG which also included "Supervixen". [8]

[edit] Critical reception

"Supervixen" received a largely positive response from music critics, many of whom chose to single out the track in their reviews of the Garbage album. The Jewish Chronicle wrote "from the staccato riff that dominates "Supervixen" the scene is set - Eurythmics meets Patti Smith in some Grungy nightclub where bitchy back-biting is the name of the game." [9] Hot Press reviewer Jackie Hayden wrote "The sound drop outs should act as a warning to be on your guard". [10] Kerrang!'s Paul Rees described the song as "a whirlpool of clattering synth stabs that break of in shattered shards", [11] while Paul Yates of Q magazine said that "Garbage's signature lies in songs like "Supervixen", good pop tunes dealt a rough treatment and brazen vocals". [12] Ikon's Jamie T. Conway gave a negative review for the album but described "Supervixen" as Pixies-lite and a "strangely appealing" exception. [13]

Peter Murphy of wrote of "Supervixen" in his biography for 2007's Absolute Garbage sleeve-notes: "The song used silence in a way I'd never heard before. When the music stopped, it wasn't a pause for effect. There was no residual cymbal swish or reverberation or amp hum. That silence was total. It meant business. It was a sort of black hole implosion into which you feared your soul might be sucked." [14]

[edit] Credits and Personnel

Garbage

Additional musicians

  • Mike Kashou – bass

Publishing

  • Written by Garbage
  • Copyright 1995 Vibecrusher Music / Irving Music, Inc (BMI) / Deadarm Music (ASCAP)

Production

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Supervixen" US CD Promo PRO-CD-8010. Garbage-Discography.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  2. ^ a b "Hits magzine ("Supervixen" trade ad)" (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  3. ^ "Q (issue 09/01/1996)" (Retrieved - 2008-01-28)
  4. ^ "Garbage album sleeve credits (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  5. ^ "Modern Life Is Rubbish". The Face magazine, Sept 1996 issue. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  6. ^ Listings for Oct 1996 Modern Rock Radio. Promoonly.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  7. ^ Single Chart History: Garbage. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  8. ^ "Queer" Spain CD2 Promo 74321 35682 2. Garbage-Discography.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  9. ^ The Jewish Chronicle, dated September 30, 1995 (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  10. ^ Hot Press magazine, October issue (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  11. ^ Kerrang! magazine, September 30, 1995 issue (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  12. ^ Q magazine, issue 11/01/1995 (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  13. ^ Ikon magazine, November 1995 issue (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)
  14. ^ Absolute Garbage biography (Retrieved - 2008-02-04)

[edit] External links